KR20010029566A - Magnetic Card System for Video game machine and the control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: Provided are a magnetic card system having a plurality of cards and inactive memory storing various information and the control method for a game machine, which can be used with a coin inserting way and lets the manager restore errors or change the rate of the game easily. CONSTITUTION: The system comprises a plurality of magnetic cards storing random code data different from each other and being divided into respective uses, a card reader reading data stored in the card and recording, an interface circuit interfacing the card reader, a memory composed of a plurality of register groups comprising inactive memory keeping stored memory when power supply is cut off for storing random setting data to the each register, a micro processor, an indicating part outputting random message by the control of the micro processor and a buzzer generating alarm sound. The micro processor connected to the card reader through the interface circuit is fed with the random code data stored in the cards and distinguish the uses of the data, changes the set data stored in the register based on the fed data according to the uses and overall controls the whole operation of the machine by getting a coin inserting signal from the outside equipment or outputting a using signal of the outside equipment based on the data read from the magnetic card. The control method includes the following steps: (i) inserting one among a plurality of magnetic card storing different value of classified codes and data into the card reader; (ii) comparing the specific code, classified code and data read from the card with the proper specific code value prestored in the code register; (iii) judging a kind of the inserted card by comparing the read classified code value with a plurality of proper classified code values prestored in the code register when the code of the card corresponds to the code value prestored in the register; and then (iv) performing respectively different action by the classified cards by using the resulting data value read according to the kinds of the cards.

Description

Magnetic card system for video game machine and the control method

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a magnetic card system, and more particularly, to a card system for a game machine and a method of controlling the same, which are installed in an existing electronic amusement machine (hereinafter referred to as a game machine) used in a coin input method so that both cards and coins can be used. .

In general, the card system provides a convenient function to both users and administrators by using a magnetic card stored in any amount so that users can use game machines, computers or other devices without the hassle of inserting coins or paying cash after using them. Do it.

However, the conventional card system has a disadvantage in that it cannot be used with coin injection or is too expensive. In addition, in order to recover from an error or to arbitrarily change the internal setting contents of the fare system, it is necessary to perform a complicated hardware operation such as resetting a plurality of switches according to a manual, and inadequate preparation for power failure.

Therefore, various errors related to the card or an accident such as a momentary power failure may occur frequently, and each time a rapid response is required, and a game room or a game room where the amount of use is changed for each device and the fare system is also required from time to time. There was a problem that was difficult to apply directly to the device.

The present invention has been proposed to solve the problems of the prior art, and can be used in combination with the existing coin input method, by using a plurality of cards to have any purpose, the administrator can recover the error without special hardware operation It is an object of the present invention to provide a card system for a game machine and a control method thereof so that the amount of money can be easily changed.

The present invention for achieving the above object is a plurality of magnetic cards that are stored in the arbitrary arbitrary code information in addition to the data, each of which is separated for any purpose by the code; A card reader for reading and recording information recorded on the magnetic card; An interface circuit for interfacing the card reader; A memory comprising a plurality of register groups comprising an inactive memory which does not lose the stored information even when the power supply is interrupted and stores arbitrary setting information in the respective registers; It is connected to the card reader through the interface circuit and receives the different random code information stored in the magnetic card to distinguish the purpose, and according to the distinguished use, the data stored in the magnetic card is input to the registers of the memory based on this. A microprocessor for changing the stored setting information, receiving a coin input signal generated from an external device, or outputting an external device use signal based on data read from a magnetic card, and controlling the overall operation of the device; A display unit for outputting an arbitrary message under the control of the microprocessor; Configure the card system for the game machine, including the buzzer to generate an alarm sound,

The card system for a game machine includes a first step of inserting a magnetic card of any one of a plurality of magnetic cards in which a unique code, a classification code of different values and data are stored, into a card reader; A second step of reading a unique code, a classification code and data stored in the magnetic card inserted in the first step, and comparing the value of the read unique code with a corresponding unique code value previously stored in a code register; If the value of the unique code read out from the magnetic card inserted in the second step matches the corresponding unique code value previously stored in the code register, the value of the sorted code read out is compared with a number of corresponding classification code values previously stored in the code register. A third step of judging / classifying the type of magnetic card inserted in comparison; According to the control method of the fourth step of performing different operations for each card classified using the data value read in accordance with the type of magnetic card determined in the third step.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a card system according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the basic operation of the present invention by process.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a coin input checking process of FIG. 2.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a card insertion error checking process of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the card lead and classification process shown in FIG. 2. FIG.

Fig. 6A is a flowchart showing the operation when a user card is input (coin).

Fig. 6B is a flowchart (part time) showing an operation when a user card is input.

7 is a flowchart showing a classification code confirmation and classification process and a classified card operation process.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

90. Microprocessor 91. Memory

92. Indicator 93. Buzzer

94. Function Buttons 95. Interface Circuits

96. Card Reader 97. Game Controller

98. Coin Input Detection Device 99. Magnetic Card

100. External Equipment

Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of a card system for a game machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a card system for a game machine according to the present invention, the organic operation between the internal components will be described with reference to FIGS.

The dotted line portion shown in the lower part of FIG. 1 shows an external device, that is, the electronic entertainment device 100, and shows only the game controller 97 and the coin input detecting device 98 necessary for explaining the operation of the present invention for convenience.

As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention includes a microprocessor 90 for overall control of the overall operation; A card reader 96 for reading and writing data recorded on the magnetic card; An interface circuit (I / F) 95 for connecting the card reader 96 and the microprocessor 90; A memory 91 capable of storing and reproducing necessary information; A function button 94 for generating an arbitrary user signal; The display unit 92 and the buzzer 93 provide information such as an operation state of the present invention to an external user. Denoted by reference numeral 99 in FIG. 1 is the magnetic card 99 used in the present invention. The memory may include a balance, a total amount, a set unit amount, a set unit time, error check and mode registers (not shown), and a code register (not shown) that stores a unique code and a classification code. It is composed of an inactive memory so that the stored information is not erased even if an accident such as a power failure occurs.

The magnetic card 99 is divided into a plurality of different types of cards according to their functions, and a classification method and a purpose of each card are as follows.

For example, the magnetic card 99 is divided into "user card", "master card", "data card", "identification card" are used, of which the user card is used by a general user and a certain amount (Hereinafter referred to as 'balance') is recorded and the remaining cards are used for management. The master card is used to modify the basic unit price, the data card is used for counting sales and the confirmation card is used for error checking and correction.

Each card stores a unique code, a classification code, and data, and accordingly reads the information stored in the card to the microprocessor 90 through the card reader 96. The microprocessor 90 compares the unique code read with the information previously stored in the memory 91 to determine whether the authenticity card. In other words, in the case of a game room, all cards issued / used in one game room use the same unique code, and by checking this, the authenticity card used in each shop is checked. Each card stores different classification codes according to the types thereof, and compares the classification codes to determine what purpose the inserted card is, and processes the read data for each classified card. For example, if the inserted card is determined to be a user card through the classification code check process, the information stored in the data is processed as a balance. If the card is determined to be a master card, the stored data is used to modify the set amount. .

Hereinafter, the operating characteristics of the card reader for a game machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in Figs.

First, the basic operation of the present invention is shown in Figure 2 in order. First, after the initialization process, when there is a coin input through the coin input check (10) process, it is possible to use the game machine immediately like the existing game machine, card insertion error check 20 process when the card is inserted Check that the card is inserted correctly. After the card insertion error check 20 process is completed, the card lead and classification process 30 is performed to read and classify the information of the inserted card 99. Following the above process, the present invention provides the following process. Will proceed. Here, the coin input check 10 is positioned to take precedence over the process after the insertion of other cards. The coin input check 10 is a partial description of the operation of the present invention. It is configured to always check during operation and to perform a corresponding operation whenever a coin input occurs.

3 is a flowchart for explaining the coin input check process 10 described above. First, it is determined whether a coin is input (11). This process is performed by sending a signal generated from the coin input detection device 98 mounted on the game machine 100 to the microprocessor 90. Next, the occurrence of the signal is counted in the microprocessor 90 (12). For example, when a 100 won coin is put into a game machine having a unit price of 200 won (example of a set unit amount), two coins are to be input. In case (13), the coin input counter is cleared and the equipment use signal is generated once (14). At this time, a value accumulated in a set unit amount of 200 won is recorded in a total amount register (not shown in the total amount R), and the equipment use signal generated by the microprocessor 90 is an external device, that is, a game machine controller 97 of a game machine. ) To use the game console. In addition, the feedback loop indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 3 means that the above-described coin input check process 10 is always in a waiting state while the system of the present invention is operated. As a next step of the process shown in FIG. It doesn't mean you can't get over and the whole system is down.

When using the magnetic card 99 in the present invention, as shown in the card insertion error check process 20 shown in Figure 4, first check the card insertion through the card reader 96 (21). In this process, when the card is not inserted, the display unit 92 is operated to output the message "card" and is indicated by a dotted line to return to the step of continuously checking whether the card is inserted. This feedback loop means that the card insertion confirmation step 21 is always in a waiting state, and if the card is inserted at any time while the system of the present invention is operating, the operation of the next step is continued. In addition, the term 'end' mentioned in the following description means that the system of the present invention does not perform the process of the next step. At this time, when the card is completely removed, the card is recognized as not being inserted. It means returning to the beginning of the confirmation step (21).

If a card insertion error occurs, an insertion error message of "E-In" is output through the display unit 92, and the process ends.

If the card is correctly inserted, the process of card lead and sorting 30 shown in FIG.

When the card is correctly inserted, the card reader 96 first reads the unique code, classification code and data recorded on the card. Thereafter, a microprocessor checks the unique code 32, which compares the information previously stored in the code register with the unique code read from the inserted card. If the unique code does not match in this process, it is determined as a fraudulent card and does not proceed to the next process (33). When the unique codes match in the above process, the classification codes are compared again to determine one of the four cards described above, and the classification codes are identified and classified 40 for each card to perform the next operation.

If the card input in the above process is a user card, the process shown in FIG. 6A is performed. First, the data value of the card read is judged as the balance, and the data is recorded in a balance register (not shown: balance R) provided in the memory 91. At this time, the balance is output through the display unit 92 (61). Thereafter, when the function button 94 formed on the outside of the card system according to the present invention is pressed (62), the microprocessor compares the set unit amount with the balance (63), and if the balance is smaller than the set unit amount, the buzzer (93). The operation ends with the alarm sound.

If the balance is greater than or equal to the unit setting amount, when the function button 94 is pressed (62), the microprocessor subtracts the unit setting amount from the balance and writes it to the balance register (64) and displays the subtracted amount. 92). In operation 66, data of the user card inserted through the card reader 96 is rewritten as the reduced balance. Thereafter, the equipment use signal is generated once and sent to the game controller 67. In this process, the user can use the game machine (68), and when the game is finished (69), the user returns to the function button standby state 62 again, and if the remaining amount of money remains, the user resets the function button 94 again. By pressing, you can continue to use the game machine in the same way that you put more coins into it. Of course, by withdrawing the inserted user card, the user can end the use of the game machine, and the system of the present invention also returns to the card insertion confirmation step 21.

The above has described the operation of the present invention in the coin system mode to apply a fixed fee per game. This is a preferred operation mode to be applied to a game machine, such as a game room that limits the number of times of use of the device in proportion to the amount of coin input, and for the case of an operation mode that is preferable to be applied to a computer of a general game room that pays a certain cost per use time. Explain.

Fig. 6B is a flowchart showing the operation of the card system according to the present invention when operated in the part-time mode applying a fixed fee per use time.

In the timed mode, when the user card is inserted, the card insertion error check 20 and the card read and sorting 30 are performed in the same manner, and the read balance is recorded in the balance register and outputted through the display unit. 71). Then, the microprocessor compares the set unit amount with the remaining amount (72), and if the remaining amount is less than the set unit amount, outputs the equipment use signal as 'L' and ends the process (where the equipment use signal is the amusement controller 97 As an enable signal applied to), a computer in a game room generally corresponds to a power signal applied to a monitor, a keyboard or a mouse, and is enabled when the level of the enable signal is 'H' and is 'L'. Configuration is disabled when If the balance is greater than or equal to the set unit amount, the microprocessor subtracts the set unit amount from the balance, writes it to the balance register (73), outputs it through the display unit (74), and inserts the user card inserted through the card reader 96. After the data of the data is rewritten as a reduced balance (75), the equipment use signal is output as 'H' (76) so that the entertainer 100 can be used (77). Thereafter, the microprocessor checks whether the game machine is still in use (78) and, when in use, operates a timer (not shown) inside the microprocessor 90 (79) when the system use time matches the unit setting time. To increase, and if it matches (80), clears the system usage time (81) and returns to the step 72 of comparing the balance with the above-described unit set amount, so that the user continues to be external while the balance remains. The equipment becomes available. Of course, when the value of the balance register is reduced during the operation of the two modes, as described above, the value of the total register is accumulated by the reduced value and used for later sales counting.

As described above, the card system according to the present invention is configured to selectively operate the part-time mode and the coin-based mode according to an arbitrary manager, and the method of mode selection will be described later.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart briefly showing the classification code checking and classification 40 process and the classified card-specific operation 50 process.

The present invention compares the classification code read out first, and when the master card is inserted (41), outputs the unique code through the display unit (51), and then, in the setting unit value register based on the data of the master card. Change the recorded content and output it through the display. That is, the microprocessor of the present invention stores the data value read from the inserted master card in the setting unit value register of the memory. At this time, the data of the master card is pre-recorded with 1-bit information indicating the time- or coin-time mode and information indicating the set unit amount. Therefore, by preparing a plurality of master cards each having different modes and setting unit amounts recorded therein and selectively inserting one of these master cards, the administrator can easily change the usage fee and mode as necessary.

When the data card is inserted (42), the amount of money recorded in the set unit value register is output (53) through the display unit, and then the amount of income recorded in the total amount register is output through the display unit (54). Therefore, the administrator can check the total income from coins and cards only by inserting the data card. After the process is completed, the total amount register is cleared again (54) and the process ends.

Next, when the confirmation card is inserted, the display unit alternately outputs an arbitrary message indicating the type of error and the balance recorded in the balance register (55). In the above operation, when an error such as a power failure or an unbalanced withdrawal occurs, the microprocessor writes corresponding bit information to the error check and mode registers so that the error check can be performed. And a text message indicating a corresponding error type according to the value of the mode register. In the next step, when the inserted identification card is withdrawn and the user card is reinserted within a predetermined time (56), the remaining balance recorded in the balance register is rewritten to the inserted user card (57). With such a function, the administrator can easily recover various errors related to the user card balance.

As described above, the present invention includes a plurality of cards and an inactive memory, each of which can be used for arbitrary purposes through code division, and stores various kinds of information, thereby checking and recovering various errors, counting sales, and changing the set amount of money. The management work such as the above can be performed by inserting the above arbitrary card, and the management work becomes easy. In addition, it can be used in common with the existing coin input method, it can effectively accommodate the advantages of general use, management, and sales that can be expected by using the card instead of cash, without the inconvenience of users familiar with the existing coin input method. There is an advantage.

Claims (4)

A plurality of magnetic cards which store different arbitrary code information in addition to the data and are separated for any purpose by the codes; A card reader for reading and recording the information recorded on the magnetic card; An interface circuit for interfacing the card reader; A memory comprising a plurality of register groups comprising an inactive memory which does not lose the stored information even when the power supply is interrupted and stores arbitrary setting information in the respective registers; It is connected to the card reader through the interface circuit to receive different arbitrary code information stored in the magnetic card to distinguish the use, and according to the distinguished use, receives the data stored in the magnetic card based on the The microprocessor changes the setting information stored in the register of the memory, receives the coin input signal generated from the external device, or outputs the external device use signal based on the data read from the magnetic card, and controls the overall operation of the device. Wow; A display unit for outputting an arbitrary message under the control of the microprocessor; Card system for a game machine, characterized in that consisting of a buzzer for generating an alarm sound. In the control method of the card system that restricts the use of external equipment using a magnetic card, Inserting a magnetic card of any one of a plurality of magnetic cards having a unique code, a classification code having different values, and data into a card reader; A second step of reading a unique code, a classification code and data stored in the magnetic card inserted in the first step, and comparing the value of the read unique code with a corresponding unique code value previously stored in a code register; When the value of the unique code read out from the magnetic card inserted in the second step matches the corresponding unique code value previously stored in the code register, the value of the classified classification code read and the plurality of corresponding classification code values previously stored in the code register A third step of judging / classifying the type of magnetic card inserted in comparison; And a fourth step of performing a different operation for each card classified using the data value read according to the type of the magnetic card determined in the third step. The method according to claim 2, In the fourth step, when the type of the magnetic card inserted in the third step is determined / classified as a master card, the magnetic card inserted after outputting the unique code value read from the inserted magnetic card to the outside using a display unit A setting changing step of changing the setting unit amount according to the data value read from the display unit and outputting the changed setting unit amount to the outside through the display unit; If the type of the magnetic card inserted in the third step is judged / sorted as a data card, an import aggregation step of outputting the set unit amount to the outside through the display unit and outputting the accumulated total amount through the display unit; When the type of the magnetic card inserted in the third step is determined / sorted as the identification card, the random text message and the balance according to the generated error are alternately output to the outside through the display unit, and the identification card is withdrawn. An error checking and restoring step of recording a balance in the inserted user card when the user card is inserted within a predetermined time; When the type of the magnetic card inserted in the third step is determined / classified as a user card, the data value read from the inserted magnetic card is recognized as a balance, and when the balance is larger than the set unit amount, the use of external equipment is approved. A control method of a card system for a game machine, characterized by consisting of the steps of using the device. The method according to claim 3, The step of using the device may include: a recognition and display step of storing data values read from the inserted magnetic card in a balance register and then outputting them externally through a display unit; A balance checking step of comparing the magnitude of the value of the balance register stored in the recognition and display step with the value of the setting unit value register; An unusable step of outputting a "low" level equipment use signal when the value of the balance register is less than the value of the set unit value register in the balance checking step; In the balance checking step, if the value of the balance register is larger than the value of the setting unit amount register, the value obtained by subtracting the setting unit amount from the balance is recorded in the balance register, and the total value is added to the total amount register. A usage approval step of recording the value of the value in the inserted user card and outputting a "high" level equipment use signal; A counting step of accumulating counting the use time of the equipment in which the equipment use signal is output at a "high" level after the use approval step; An equipment use time checking step of comparing the size of the unit setting time with the equipment use time counted in the counting step; A count duration step of repeating the counting step if the equipment use time is less than a unit setting time in the equipment use time checking step; If the equipment use time is equal to the unit setting time in the equipment use time check step, the control of the card system for game machines characterized in that the use time clearing step of clearing the count value of the equipment use time and proceeding the balance check step Way.